Spool



Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED srooL Hilyard C. Howsam, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Hubbard Spool Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 6, 1941, Serial No. 413,757 srclaims. (el. 2425123) My invention relates to spools constructed entirely of sheet metal and adapted particularly for supporting wire. The important object of the invention is to produce a spool which can be economically manufactured, and which is comparatively light but of rugged construction resistant to service strains and abuse.

The various features of construction and arrangement involved in the spool will become apparent from the drawing and the specication.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end View of a spool;

Figure 2 is a section on plane II-II of Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a section on plane III--III of Fig. 2.

The barrel B of the spool comprises similar halves drawn from sheet metal and each comprising a circular wall II) and a flange part II extending radially from the outer end of the wall I0. The circular body portions III abut at their inner ends and are rigidly secured together by a circular tie plate I2 welded thereto as indicated at I3.

The heads H for the spool are in the form of circular sheet metal disks. The outer peripheral portion I4 of each head rests against the corresponding flange II and the outer portion of each ange is deected outwardly into substantially semi-circular cross section to snugly receive and engage around the edge of the peripheral 5 portion I4 of the head. The central portion I5 of each head is deflected outwardly with its outer surface terminating in or short of the plane of the outer surface of theldeflected over end of the corresponding barrel flange II. The intermediate portion Ii of each head is deiected inwardly to provide a shoulder II abutting the corner between the corresponding liange'I I andbody portion III of the spool, this annular shoulder Il then serving to hold the barrel end to true circular form.

Within the barrel at each end thereof is a brace or truss member T of sheet metal. Each truss is of U-shaped cross section and extends diametrically the full width of the barrel below the corresponding head H with its bottom or yoke wall I8 engaging against the intermediate portion I6 of the head and rigidly secured thereto, preferably by spot welding as indicated at I9.

The flanges 20 of each brace structure T have their center portions deflected laterally outwardly to provide opposed circular arc portions 2| forming sockets, and between these portions the yoke of the brace member is extruded outwardly to provide an annular ange 22 concentric with the portions 2I. The flange 22 of each brace member extends into the inner annular portion I5 of the corresponding head concentric therewith and the portion I5 is extruded and deflected to form an inwardly extending annular flange 23 telescoping the flange 22 of the brace member and to provide the axial passageway 2li. Each brace member T by being welded to the head and radially interlocked with the central portion I5 of the head thus materially strengthens and stiffens the head against axial distortion under heavy service. The brace members at opposite ends of the barrel may extend parallel or may extend in different diameters as shown on Figs. 2 and 3.

An arbor or core tube A is Provided in alignment with the passageways 24 in the heads for receiving arbors or other supports for the spool when the spool is being wound or unwound. This arbor tube may be a length of sheet metal tubing or may be formed from a blank of sheet metal. At its ends the arbor tube ts snugly in the sockets formed by the opposed arcuate portions 2l of the respective brace members T to be secured thereto as by spot welding as indicated at 25. The arbor tube is provided near each end with an annular external bead or shoulder 26 for abutting against the inner ends of the arcuate portions 2I of the respective brace members T which receive the ends of the tube. The arbor tube thus forms a strut between the brake members to which it is Welded so that these brace members will be held intimately against the respective spool heads which are thus strengthened against axial displacement under service or loads.

In order that the various spool parts may be .accurately assembled, the barrel portions I are provided with longitudinally extending indentatlons 21 forming aligning keys 28 on the inner side. The two barrel halves are assembled with these keys in alignment and the tie plate I2 is provided with an indentation 29 to receive the keys, as shown on Fig. 2. The heads I-I are provided with indentations Si) which receive the outer ends of the keys for proper location of the heads relative to the barrel.

In order to connect the spool with a driving pin when the spool is to be wound or unwound, the inner portions I5 of the spool heads are provided with openings 3 I. As shown on Fig. 3 these openings may be surrounded by inner flanges 32 for adequate engaging surface with a driving pin.

I thus produce a spool constructed of com-I paratively light sheet metal but amply braced and trussed to withstand strains and to prevent distortion under heavy service and use. I have shown a practical and eflcient embodiment of the features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described as changes are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. A spool comprising a sheet metal barrel having radial flanges at its ends, heads engaging along their outer peripheral portions with the respective flanges, an intermediate annular portion of each head being deected inwardly, a. cross brace extending diametrically within each end of said barrel and welded to the corresponding head intermediate portion, and interengaging flanges on each head and the corresponding brace member.

2. A sheet metal spool comprising a barrel having anges at its ends, heads for said barrel having their outer peripheral portions seating against the respective flanges, an intermediate annular portion of each head being deflected inwardly to provide an annular shoulder behind the respective barrel flange, a transversely extending brace member in each end of said barrel spot welded to the defiected intermediate portion of the corresponding head, each head having an axial passageway surrounded by an inwardly extending iiange, and an outwardly extending ila-nge on each brace member receiving the inwardly extending flange of the respective head.

3. A sheet metal spool comprising a barrel having flanges at its ends, heads for said barrel engaging against the outer sides of said flanges, a brace member extending diametrically across the barrel within each end thereof andwelded to the respective head, the central portion of veach head being deflected outwardly and being provided with an axial passageway therethrough, a flange extending inwardly around said passageway, and an outwardly extending ange on each brace member concentric with and telescoping the inwardly extending flange on the respective head. Y

4. A sheet metal spool comprising a barrel with flanges at its ends, heads fo-r said barrel engaging with and secured against the outer sides of said flanges, a brace member extending across the barrel within each end thereof and -b'eing of U-shape cross section to provide a back wall and inwardly extending flanges, the back walls of said brace members being welded against the inner side of the respective heads, an Varbor tube having its ends extending between the anges of the respective brace members and rigidly secured thereto, and passageways in said -heads in alignment with said arbor tube.

5. A sheet metal spool comprising a barrel having anges at its ends, heads for said barrel secured against the outer sides of said flanges, a brace member extending diametrically across the barrel within each end thereof and being of U- shaped cross section to provide a back wall and anges, the back wall of each brace member being welded to the inner side of the respective head and the brace member anges extending inwardly, an arbor tube having its ends extending between the flanges of the brace members and rigidly secured thereto, shoulders on said arbor tube abutting the inner edges of the respective flanges, and passageways in said heads in alignment with said arbor tube.

6. A spool constructed of sheet material and comprising a barrel having flanges at its ends, heads for said barrel secured against the outer sides of said flanges, an intermediate annular portion of each head being deflected inwardly to provide an annular shoulder behind the corner of the respective flange, a brace member extending diametrically across the barrel within each end thereof and welded to the intermediate portion of the respective head, an arbor tube secured at its ends to said brace members, an outwardly extending flange on each brace member concentric with said arbor tube, each head having an axial passageway in alignment with said arbor tube, and an inwardly extending ange on each head concentric with and engaged by the flange on the respective brace member.

7. A sheet metal spool comprising a barrel having flanges at its ends, heads for said barrel engaging against the outer sides of said anges and having inward deflections providing shoulders behind the barrel anges, a brace bar extending diametrically across the; barrel within each end thereof and welded to the respective head, inwardly extending flanges on each bar, said heads having axial passageways therethrough and said bars having aligning passageways therethrough, and an arbor tubesecured at its ends between the flanges of the respective bars for registration with the passageways through said bars and heads.

8. A sheet metal spool comprising abarrel-having flanges atv its ends, heads for said barrel seating against the outer sides of saidanges and being secured thereto and having inward deflections providing shoulders .behind .the barrel flanges, brace bars extending diametrically across the barrel within the ends thereof. and welded to the respective heads and having inwardly extending flanges forming sockets, and an arbor tube extending axially through said barrel.V with its ends engaging in said sockets,' said headsand bars having axial passageways in alignment with said arbor tube.

' HILYARD C. HOWSAM. 

